Device for simultaneous pressing of both sides of a garment having a longitudinal opening



Allg- 18, 1954 H. KANNEGIESSER r-:TAL 3,144,969

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUS PRESSING OF' BOTH SIDES oF A @ARMENT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL OPENING "afm Aug. 18, 1964 H. KANNEGIESSER ETAL 3,144,969

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUS PRESSING OF' BOTH SIDES OF A GARMENT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL. OPENING Filed July 3l, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pfg. 7

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0TH SIDES OPENING DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUS PRESSING OF' B OF A GARMENT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL Filed July 3l, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 limer/fans ng .GJ'JP Aug- 18,1964 H. KANNEGIESSER ETAL 3,144,969

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUS PRESSING OF' BOTH SIDES OF A GARD/[ENT HAVING A LNGITUDINAL OPENING Filed July 31, 1961 4 sheetsheet 4 United States Patent O 3,144,969 DEVICE EUR SIMUIJTANEUS FRESSING (IF RUTH SIDES F A GARMENT HAVING A LNGITUDI- NAL GPENING Herbert Kaunegiesser and Richard .Iuraschelr, both of Vlotho (Weser), Germany, assignors to Kannegiesser 3: Co. Maschinenfabrik Grmbl-li., Vlotho (Weser), Germany Fiied .Iuly 3l, T961, Ser.. No. 127,933 Claims. (Cl. 223-74) The present invention relates to a device for simultaneous pressing of the two sleeves of garments having a longitudinal opening. It is known, for purposes of simultaneously pressing both sleeves of a garment having a longitudinal opening, to place the sleeves on sleeve bucks. In connection therewith, it has furthermore been suggested to provide the sleeve bucks with spreader ns by means of which the sleeves are spread, whereupon the sleeve bucks are moved between press plates.

In connection with shirt presses, it is also known to employ laterally movable sleeve holders.

On the other hand, with spreaders for pants, onepiece or superimposed spreaders connected to links have been employed.

For purposes of tightening or spreading the press body, it has been suggested to employ clasping rods connected to links.

With all of these heretofore known pressing machines, it is generally customary to insert and to press only those parts of the garments which are located in one plane. Thus, garment portions as, for instance sleeves, shoulders and neck portions of shirts, coats or the like, can, for all practical purposes not be completely pressed in conformity with their cut because a placing of the garments on the respective supports is not possible when these supports or bucks occupy a position in which the garment would occupy its natural position, i.e. a position according to its speciiic cut at which the respective garment material would be without creases.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for placing and pressing sleeves or the like of garments upon sleeve supporting bucks in conformity with the cut of the sleeve or garment in such a way that the garment, when properly placed on the buck will occupy a position close to its natural position at which the sleeve and adjacent portions are without creases.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device for simultaneously pressing the sleeves of garments, as it is set forth in the preceding paragraph, which will be simple in construction and in operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specilication in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic front view of a garment press according to the present invention with the garment support moved into the press cabinet.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic side view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 diagrammatically illustrates the actuation of the sleeve bucks.

FIGURE 5 illustrates on a somewhat larger scale than FIGURES l to 4 a section through a sleeve buck with spreader fins.

FIGURE 6 represents a section through the same buck as FIGURE 5 but with parts of the buck in diiferent position.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of a different embodiment of a press according to the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a top view of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 shows the bucks of FIGURE 7 in a position in which the sleeve of the garment is placed thereon.

FIGURE l0 represents a diagrammatic illustration of an actuating mechanism for the sleeve bucks displaceable counter to each other.

FIGURE 11 represents a third embodiment of a press according to the invention with horizontally displaceable sleeve buck.

FIGURE l2 is a front view of the press according to FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a front view like FIGURE l with a garment thereon and showing the parts of the garment press more in detail.

The method according to the present invention for placing and pressing the sleeves of garments on sleeve bucks is characterized primarily in that the sleeve bucks are adjusted into a position in which the respective garment occupies its natural position as it is determined by its cut, so that it will be possible to press the sleeve, shoulder and neck portions in conformity with the cut thereof in one pressing operation.

In conformity with the present invention, the sleeves of the garment are placed upon the sleeve bucks in loading position of the latter, whereupon the sleeve bucks are spread apart laterally whereby at the same time the total shoulder and neck portions are spread and placed in taut position. In their spread position, the sleeves are spread in conformity with the cut by the spreading tins on the sleeve ball.

Thus, in conformity with the present invention, the sleeves of the garment are placed on two adjacent sleeve bucks, and these sleeve bucks are then tilted into pressing position and are moved between two press plates.

More specifically, the present invention consists in that the sleeves of the garment having its back folded outwardly are placed upon approximately adjacent sleeve bucks provided with shoulder plates. Thereupon, the said sleeve bucks with shoulder plates are turned into a position which corresponds approximately to the natural fold-free position of the sleeves relative to the trunk body portion. Thereupon, in a manner known per se, the spreader tins are spread and are subsequently moved between the press plates. Thereafter, by means of corresponding press plates, simultaneously the lower and upper portions of the sleeves and, as the case may be also the shoulder portions are pressed in approximately the natural position which the garment will occupy on a wearers body.

In this connection, it is novel that on each side the sleeve bucks are connected to the shoulder supporting members and are tiltable in such a way that in the loading position of the sleeve bucks, the latter are located adjacent to each other and point to the servicing side, whereas in the pressing position, the sleeve bucks are located approximately in one plane while the shoulder supporting members form a substantially uninterrupted shoulder portion. The sleeve bucks are, in a manner known per se provided with spreader tins, whereas in` the pressing position, corresponding pressing plates are adapted to be pressed against the outer and inner side of the sleeve and against the shoulder portion.

Another important feature of the present invention consists in the possibility of angularly adjusting the sleeve bucks. It should also be noted that the sleeve bucks are turnably located and that furthermore, the sleeve bucks are movable along a certain curve.

Still another feature of the present invention consists in that the plate unit has an upper and two lower plates.`

The upper plate, suspended on the frame for purposes of weight balancing by means of corresponding springs, is adapted to be pressed downwardly hydraulically or aia-tees pneumatically while cooperating with the upper side of the sleeve bucks and the shoulder members. The two lower plates are adapted by means of a pressure actuated transmission, to be pressed against the bottom side of the sleeve bucks.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and FIGS. 1 to 5 thereof in particular, the press illustrated therein comprises a cabinet or housing into which the support for the garment to be pressed, for instance a supporting column 11, may be moved and from which the support may be withdrawn after completing the pressing operation.

The supporting column 11 has sleeve bucks 12, 12a respectively turnably journalled on axles 13. The tilting of the sleeve bucks 12, 12a is, for instance effected by toggle levers 14, 14a which are turnably connected to a transverse lever 15. Lever 15 is displaced mechanically or by the piston of a pressure cylinder 16. In this way, it is possible to tilt the sleeve bucks 12, 12a into a loading position in which the garment may easily be placed upon said bucks.

' The sleeve bucks 12, 12a are contoured in conformity with the sleeve contour and have a round or oval cross-section so that the sleeve can be pressed thereon. This can be seen in FIG. 12 wherein the sleeve bucks are shown in perspective.

The sleeve bucks 12, 12a are adapted, for purposes of loading the sleeves, to be moved or tilted as shown in the dashed position of FIGS. 2 and 3, i.e. are tiltable away from the press 10 so that both sleeves of the respective garment to be pressed may be properly placed upon the bucks 12, 12a. Thereupon, the sleeve bucks 12, 12a, with the sleeves of the garment thereon, are moved into the position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, which is a position in which the sleeves, due to their particular cut, and also the adjacent shoulder portions, are in a smoothed-out position.

The angle of the sleeve bucks 12,l 12a with regard to the shoulder sections or the main body portion for the pressing of shirts and the like amounts to nearly 90 whereas said angle with regard to other garments as, for instance coats or the like amounts to approximately from to 45. The term according to the cut is meant to indicate that the sleeves of shirts are so supported that they can be placed in a plane in a crease-free manner only when the sleeves are tilted away from the main body by approximately 90, whereas with other garment pieces, such as coats or the like, the sleeves can be placed in an approximately crease-free manner only when they occupy a downwardly inclined position with regard to the main body.

In conformity with the present invention, the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are, due to their tiltable arrangement, rst tilted so that their free ends 12b are moved toward each other for loading the garment to be pressed on said sleeve bucks, whereupon the sleeve bucks are moved away from each other into the respective tilted position in which the sleeves and shoulder portions occupy a position according to their cut, i.e. are crease-free.

The sleeve bucks 12, 12a are furthermore provided with spreader iins 17, 17a which are acted upon by a spring 18 and are linked together at 19. By means of a tiltable lever 21 adapted to be actuated by the piston of a pressure uid cylinder 20, the spreader iins are adapted to be moved out of their respective position of FIG. 5 (loading position) into the position according to FIG. 6 which represents the tightening or spreading position.

Press 10 is for each buck 12, 12a furthermore provided with press plates 23, 23a respectively connected to the upper plates 22 for the neck and shoulder portions of the respective garment. These press plates 23, 23d are arranged in spaced relationship with regard to the movable press plates 24, 24a. These movable press plates 24, 24a are adapted to be actuated by levers 25,

25a through the intervention of cylinder piston systems 26, 26a.

As pressure means for the uid pressure cylinder systems, any pressure medium, especially compressed air may be employed.

The press plates 22, 23, 23a are advantageously suspended on springs 27 and are adapted by pressure fluid system 28 to be pressed against the garment after the garment supporting means have been moved into the cabinet.

The press plate 22 for the shoulder and neck portions and the arms, or press plates 23, 23a for the outer surfaces of the sleeves thus form a coherent pressing surface for pressing the garment in a single pressing operation.

To this end, the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are provided with shoulder press members 12 on which the shoulder and neck portions of the garment will rest. Moreover, the shoulder press members 12 forming the extensions of the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are provided with collar cutouts 12".

The operation of a press according to the present invention is as follows: The sleeve bucks 12, 12a are rst tilted into their loading position as shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 2 to 4. Thereupon, the sleeves of the garments are placed upon the garment bucks 12, 12a. In conformity with FIGS. 1 to 6, this is done from the lower portion upwards. Thereupon, the spreader ns 17, 17a are moved outwardly. This is brought about by a manually operable member, for instance a foot lever (not shown in the drawing) through the intervention of a pressure iiuidV cylinder piston system 20 the valves of which will be electrically opened in response to the actuation of the foot lever. After the spreader ns 17, 17a have been moved outwardly into their position corresponding to the respective cut of the garment the collar is manually inserted into the semi-round cutout 12". While in this position the sleeves are generally taut, the operator smoothes the sleeves by hand so as to be sure that they are free from creases. The machine isv now ready for the pressing operation proper, which may now take place automatically.

For initiating the present operation, the operator actuates a switch. This switch may be a so-called stepswitch the advantage of which consists in that the operator actuates always the same lever while the step-switch always advances by one contact to thereby initiate a new but different actuation of the valves for the pressure fluid cylinder piston systems 16, 26, 26a and 28. The further procedure is as follows:

A. The electric switch brings about actuation and opening of a magnetic valve whereby compressed air enters pressure iluid cylinder piston system 16 for tilting the sleeve bucks 12, 12a into their pressing position.

B. At the end of the buck movements, a limit switch is actuated, which brings about operation of the magnetic valves for the cylinder piston system controlling and adapted to move the garment support 11 between the press plates in cabinet 10. Thus, the garment support 11 moves into its pressing position.

C. At the end of the movement of the garment support II into the cabinet, a limit switch brings about actuation of the magnetic valves for the cylinder piston systems 26, 26a, 28 for moving the various pressing plates 22, 23, 23a and 24, 24a while simultaneously a timing switch (not shown) will be actuated.

D. After the time determined by said timing switch has expired, said timing switch reverses the movements of the pressing mechanism which means that now the press plates 22, 23, 23a and 24, 24a return to their starting position.

E. When all pressing plates 22, 23, 23a and 24, 24a have reached their end position, limit switches actuate the driving mechanism for moving the garment support out of the cabinet. This is done through the intervention of a magnetic valve which admits compressed air into the pressure uid cylinder system controlling the movement of the garment support 11 so that the latter moves outwardly.

At the end of the outward movement of the garment support 11, a limit switch brings about actuation of the tilting mechanism for the sleeve bucks 12, 12a. To this end a magnetic valve will be opened which permits the admission of compressed air into the pressure fluid cylinder system 16 which, in turn, tilts the bucks 12, 12a while the other side of the piston in said pressure fluid cylinder piston system 16 is actuated by compressed air as in the operation A supra.

It is, of course, to be understood that with this control, in addition to the limit switches, a number of control relays may be employed. The above described operation and initiation of the various pressing steps naturally represents only one of the many possibilities.

It is also possible automatically to adjust the sleeve bucks 12, 12a when moving the garment support 11 into its pressing position, and, vice versa, following the completion of the pressing operation, automatically to tilt the sleeve bucks 12 into their loading position which also represents the unloading position. This may be eiected, for instance in such a way that after a slight advance of the garment support 11, mechanical, electrical or pneumatic means are actuated which bring about the tliting of the sleeve bucks 12, 12a. V

It is known per se, in connection with so-called cabinet. presses, i.e. presses for the main body of shirts, and after the placing operation has been completed, to cause the operator to initiate an automatic pressing operation Whereupon the garment support moves into pressing operation, and the pressing operation is carried out whereupon, after completed pressing operation, the garment support moves automatically into its starting position where, following the completion of the movement of the garment support out of the cabinet, certain operations are carried out which make possible the unloading of the garment, for instance by opening the collar holder, clamping bands, etc.

However, according to the present invention, the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are iirst moved toward each other in. such a way that they permit the loading of both sleeves of the garment, and only after the sleeve bucks have then been moved into their position according to the cut of the garment, will the actual pressing operation be initiated.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIG. 7, this ernbodiment differs from that of FIGS. l to 3 in that the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are slidable relative to each other and in this way are movable into their loading position as shown in FIG. 9. In other words, the ends 12b of the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are adapted to be moved into a position according to the cut while sliding relative to each other. This may, of course, also be brought about by displacing one sleeve buck only with regard to the other in transverse direction. The displacement in transverse direction and the precise return movement into one plane may be effected by a link motion system 29 (see FIG. which is engaged by the holding bars 30 of the sleeve bucks 12, 12a. The displacement of the holding bars 30 which in this instance may simultaneously form the support for the garment, is effected in the manner evident from FIGS. 7 to 10, by displaceable pistons of pressure fluid cylinders 31 which are tiltably journalled and linked to the carriage 11n of the garment support 11.

It will thus be possible to move the ends 12b toward each other by offsetting and displacing said arms relative to each other, to thereby make possible the loading of the sleeves. Otherwise, the moving in of the garment support into the cabinet press 10 is eilected in the same manner as described above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 6.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 11 and 12, the adjustable sleeve bucks 12, 12a rest on the horizontally displaceable garment support 11 and are adapted to be pressed against a likewise horizontally arranged press plate or press shoe 22. The sleeve bucks 12, 12a are likewise movably arranged, which means that they can be actuated and controlled as shown in FIGS. l1 and 12. The tilting upwardly and thereby moving the ends of the arms 12b toward each other is possible in view of the fact that the sleeve bucks 12, 12a are tiltable about pivots 13 and are adapted to be tilted by means of links 14, 14a and 15 operable by the pistons of the pressure fluid cylinders 16.

The operation of the embodiment of FIG. 7 follows substantially that described in connection with the ernbodiment of FIG. 1.

Advantageously, the garment support 11 is provided with movable members in the shape of tubes or the like which are adapted to confine the main body of the garment below the sleeves or shoulder portion and to hold it in close to support 11 whereby the garment can be moved into and out of pressing position in the device.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings but also comprise any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus for simultaneously pressing the two sleeves of a unilaterally open garment: supporting means, two sleeve bucks each having a front end and a rear end and being loadable from the front end, means pivotally connecting said rear ends of said sleeve bucks to said supporting means, said sleeve bucks being movable from a loading position in which said sleeve bucks extend in the same general direction from said supporting means into a pressing position in which said sleeve bucks extend in opposite directions from said supporting means, said sleeve bucks also being provided with. shoulder sections for receiving the shoulder portions of the garment to be pressed, and press platen means spaced to receive therebetween said sleeve bucks and operable to press said sleeves and shoulder portions of said garment on said sleeve bucks and shoulder sections respectively in one single pressing operation, said press platen means including a single continuous upper plate means above said bucks and movable downwardly against the tops of both of the bucks simultaneously to press the respective portions of said garment against said shoulder sections and top surface portions of said sleeve bucks :and said plate means also comprising two lower plate means beneath said bucks and movable upwardly against the bottom of said bucks to press the respective portions of said garment against the bottom surface portions of said sleeve bucks.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes frame means, cylinder piston means supported by said frame means and operatively connected to said upper plate means for actuating the same toward said bucks, and resilient means resiliently suspending said upper plate means in said frame means.

3. In an apparatus for simultaneously pressing the two sleeves of a unilaterally open garment: supporting means, two sleeve bucks each having a front end and a rear end and being loadable from the front end, means pivotally connecting said rear ends of said sleeve bucks to said supporting means, said sleeve bucks being movable from a loading position in which said sleeve bucks extend in the same general direction from said supporting means to dispose said front ends of the bucks relatively close together into a pressing position in which said bucks extend in respectively opposite directions from said supporting means, frame means, upper press plate means above said bucks and connected to said frame means, said upper plate means comprising a single continuous member extending from the region of the outer end of one sleeve buck to the region of the outer end of the other sleeve buck, said sleeve bucks when in loading position being movable into a position below said upper press plate means, means for moving said sleeve bucks into pressing position While said sleeve bucks are below said upper press plate means, said sleeve bucks and upper press plate means being adapted to be moved relatively in the vertical direction to press said bucks against said upper press plate means, and a pair of lower press plate means in the frame means beneath said bucks and movable upwardly against the lower surface of said sleeve bucks while said sleeve bucks are in their pressing position.

4. An apparatus according to claim l, in which the means pivotally connecting the rear ends of said sleeve bucks to said supporting means comprise pivot means arranged substantially vertically.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which each of said sleeve bucks is provided with spreader n means including two spreader n sections linked to each other by joint means near the outside of the respective sleeve buck, actuating means including link means connected to at least one of said spreader fin means for actuating said spreader tin means, and means continuously urging said spreader n means to move into spreading positlon.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,842 Eastman Sept. 25, 1906 1,990,454 Johnston Feb. 5, 1935 2,195,737 Rawlinson et al. Apr. 2, 1940 2,326,775 Frentzel Aug. 17, 1943 2,478,488 Keck Aug. 9, 1949 2,499,931 Sessions Mar. 7, 1950 2,507,054 Sessions May 9, 1950 2,698,705 Hitz Ian. 4, 1955 2,875,929 Langen et al. Mar. 3, 1959 2,943,772 Weihmayr July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,051,172 France Sept. 9, 1953 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSING THE TWO SLEEVES OF A UNILATERALLY OPEN GARMENT: SUPPORTING MEANS, TWO SLEEVE BUCKS EACH HAVING A FRONT END AND A REAR END AND BEING LOADABLE FROM THE FRONT END, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID REAR ENDS OF SAID SLEEVE BUCKS TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID SLEEVE BUCKS BEING MOVABLE FROM A LOADING POSITION IN WHICH SAID SLEEVE BUCKS EXTEND IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEANS INTO A PRESSING POSITION IN WHICH SAID SLEEVE BUCKS EXTEND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID SLEEVE BUCKS ALSO BEING PROVIDED WITH SHOULDER SECTIONS FOR RECEIVING THE SHOULDER PORTIONS OF THE GARMENT TO BE PRESSED, AND PRESS PLATEN MEANS SPACED TO RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN SAID SLEEVE BUCKS AND OPERABLE TO PRESS SAID SLEEVES AND SHOULDER PORTIONS OF SAID GARMENT ON SAID SLEEVE BUCKS AND SHOULDER SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY IN ONE SINGLE PRESSING OPERATION, SAID PRESS PLATEN MEANS INCLUDING A SINGLE CONTINUOUS UPPER PLATE MEANS ABOVE SAID BUCKS AND MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY AGAINST THE TOPS OF BOTH OF THE BUCKS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO PRESS THE RESPECTIVE PORTIONS OF SAID GARMENT AGAINST SAID SHOULDER SECTIONS AND TOP SURFACE PORTIONS OF SAID SLEEVE BUCKS AND SAID PLATE MEANS ALSO COMPRISING TWO LOWER PLATE MEANS BENEATH SAID BUCKS AND MOVABLE UPWARDLY AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF SAID BUCKS TO PRESS THE RESPECTIVE PORTIONS OF SAID GARMENT AGAINST THE BOTTOM SURFACE PORTIONS OF SAID SLEEVE BUCKS. 